How do the all-electric proportional TBCs work?

[jeffsw6]

How do all-electric proportional brake controllers work? I see several models on etrailer.com and one distinction I notice is "auto-leveling" or "manual leveling." Do they rely on an accelerometer to decide how much voltage to send to the trailer?

Here is one I think I might put on my "new" truck which has many excellent reviews, so I figure it must work well, I just want to know what the caveats are. Brake Controller for Dodge Ram Pickup, 1997 | etrailer.com

 

[VitaBene]

How do all-electric proportional brake controllers work? I see several models on etrailer.com and one distinction I notice is "auto-leveling" or "manual leveling." Do they rely on an accelerometer to decide how much voltage to send to the trailer?

Here is one I think I might put on my "new" truck which has many excellent reviews, so I figure it must work well, I just want to know what the caveats are. Brake Controller for Dodge Ram Pickup, 1997 | etrailer.com

It is a great controller, I use the same one.

 

[VitaBene]

How do all-electric proportional brake controllers work? I see several models on etrailer.com and one distinction I notice is "auto-leveling" or "manual leveling." Do they rely on an accelerometer to decide how much voltage to send to the trailer?

Here is one I think I might put on my "new" truck which has many excellent reviews, so I figure it must work well, I just want to know what the caveats are. Brake Controller for Dodge Ram Pickup, 1997 | etrailer.com

It is a great controller. I use the same one. I have no caveats to offer. There are some more expensive plumbed units available, but for most of us this one is perfect.

 

[corey9212]

I don't know if your still looking but if so I would recommend going with the P3. I have had the P2 and although it was a good controller it wasn't a great controller, I upgraded to the P3 and it was night and day. The best feature is the diagnostic features where you can see how much voltage and amperage is being drawn.

When I was pulling my car hauler and the system started flashing "No Trailer" I just pulled over and ran the diagnostics from my controller and found out the brake cable had been severed, got out and sure enough a rock had cut the line. Quick splice and was back on the road. If I didn't have that controller it would have been a hairy ride cause I would have went down a long, steep hill with no breaks and never would have known it.

 

[Raspy]

The advertising features in their pitch are somewhat misleading. They are comparing it to a time based controller which is very outdated and even dangerous. And self leveling is another misleading feature as "leveling" is not part of the operation in a pressure sensing system. They even claim the magnets will last longer because the brakes are not on when stopped. Well, they are not on because there is no more deceleration. I don't know of magnet failures while not moving.

The diagnostics on the P3 sound like a very good thing. My Brakesmart has it too and will tell me right away if there is a broken circuit. Excellent safety item.

The one shown is a decelerator style controller, and therefore can never work as well as a brake pressure sensing controller. But it's easier to install, if that's the priority. If safety is the number one issue, look further.

Many seem afraid to install a brake pressure sensing controller just because they don't know better. It's really very simple and completely safe. And they can get you out of trouble while towing, in ways the decelerometer can't.

 

[corey9212]

The advertising features in their pitch are somewhat misleading. They are comparing it to a time based controller which is very outdated and even dangerous. And self leveling is another misleading feature as "leveling" is not part of the operation in a pressure sensing system. They even claim the magnets will last longer because the brakes are not on when stopped. Well, they are not on because there is no more deceleration. I don't know of magnet failures while not moving.

The diagnostics on the P3 sound like a very good thing. My Brakesmart has it too and will tell me right away if there is a broken circuit. Excellent safety item.

The one shown is a decelerator style controller, and therefore can never work as well as a brake pressure sensing controller. But it's easier to install, if that's the priority. If safety is the number one issue, look further.

Many seem afraid to install a brake pressure sensing controller just because they don't know better. It's really very simple and completely safe. And they can get you out of trouble while towing, in ways the decelerometer can't.

I have been looking at pressure sensing controllers but haven't been able to find much info on them. I do like the decelerator style cause they do work very well when set up correctly but not having used a pressure sensing all I can compare it to is the timed controllers which I will never turn to again.

 

[jeffsw6]

I bought the P2 but only because etrailer.com did not seem to offer a better one. I wish I had known about the difference when I bought it but anything should be better than the craptastic time-delay one I have on my Suburban. I hate that thing, in stop-and-go highway traffic (we have a lot of that in Louisville this past year) I just turn off the trailer brakes because it's hard to go 2 MPH with them on, and on Interstate 65 in Louisville, 2 MPH is the going speed.

 

[Monster5601]

It is a great controller, I use the same one.

I'll second that.:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Gary Fowler]

I just bought the P3 on Diamond Pilot's recommendation. I got a good deal from American RV for less than $130 including shipping. Price is listed as $112 then you pick your shipping. I took the cheapest which was USPS and paid a small premium for insurance. It was shipped the next day and arrived in about 5 days at my home. Still in the box waiting on me to get home to get it installed. I will try it out about June 6th when I go for my B26 TLB @ the residence of MissingTexas. That will be about 700 mile trip which is about 400 less than anticipated since I got my new trailer in Houston, I dont have to do the first 400.
Will try to post some words of wisdom on the trip when I get home with the TLB and new trailer.